U.S. patent application number 13/336014 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-10 for device housing and manufacturing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED. Invention is credited to KAI-RONG LIAO.
Application Number | 20130009525 13/336014 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47438239 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130009525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIAO; KAI-RONG |
January 10, 2013 |
DEVICE HOUSING AND MANUFACTURING METHOD
Abstract
A device housing includes a glass panel, a metal frame, and a
housing body. The metal frame defines a plurality of through holes,
and the glass panel is latched in the metal frame. The housing body
includes a base and a reinforcement portion integrally formed
together. The base surrounds the metal frame and the glass panel,
and the reinforcement portion extends through the through holes of
the metal frame and is bonded to the glass panel.
Inventors: |
LIAO; KAI-RONG; (Shenzhen
City, CN) |
Assignee: |
FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Kowloon
HK
SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
ShenZhen City
CN
|
Family ID: |
47438239 |
Appl. No.: |
13/336014 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.1 ;
264/273 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29L 2031/3475 20130101;
B29C 2045/14327 20130101; G06F 1/1656 20130101; B29C 45/14336
20130101; B29C 45/14377 20130101; B29L 2031/3437 20130101; B29C
2045/14368 20130101; B29C 45/14778 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.1 ;
264/273 |
International
Class: |
H05K 5/02 20060101
H05K005/02; B29C 45/14 20060101 B29C045/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 8, 2011 |
CN |
201110190922.X |
Claims
1. A device housing comprising: a glass panel; a metal frame
defining a plurality of through holes, the glass panel latched in
the metal frame; and a housing body including a base and a
reinforcement portion integrally formed together, the base
surrounding the metal frame and the glass panel, the reinforcement
portion extending through the through holes of the metal frame and
bonded to the glass panel.
2. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass
panel includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the
first surface, and a side surface connected to the first surface
and the second surface, and the side surface is sloped.
3. The device housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein one end of the
side surface is connected to the first surface at an acute angle,
and the other end of each side surface is connected to the second
surface at an obtuse angle, and the actuate angle is latched in the
metal frame.
4. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove is
defined in the glass panel, the metal frame includes a main section
and a bent edge integrally formed together, and the bent edge is
latched in the groove.
5. The device housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bent edge
extends from one side of the main section, and is slanted toward
the inside of the metal frame.
6. A method for manufacturing a device housing, comprising:
providing a glass panel and a metal frame, the metal frame defining
a plurality of through holes; latching the glass panel in the metal
frame; injecting molten material into a die chamber of an injection
mold to respectively form a base and a reinforcement portion, the
base surrounding the metal frame and the glass panel, the
reinforcement portion extending through the through holes of the
metal frame and bonded to the glass panel.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to housing
manufacturing, particularly to a device housing with a glass panel
and a method for manufacturing the housing.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Currently, portable electronic devices such as mobile
phones, laptops and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are in
widespread use and incorporate plastic housings. However,
electronic elements of the portable electronic devices received in
such housings may be easily damaged if the devices are dropped.
[0005] Many portable electronic devices include a plastic housing
and display parts made of glass. However, because the density and
specific gravity of the display parts is so much greater than
plastic, the plastic housing may deform over time, particular
around the glass parts, which may degrade the connection between
the glass and the plastic.
[0006] Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Many aspects of the housing and the method for manufacturing
the housing can be better understood with reference to the
following drawings. The components in the drawings are not
necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating the housing and the method for manufacturing
the housing. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic, exploded view of an exemplary
embodiment of a housing.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a metal frame of the housing
shown in a circular area II of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a plastic housing body shown
in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the assembled housing in FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly
housing shown in FIG. 4 taken along line IV-IV.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, in an exemplary embodiment, a housing
100 of a portable electronic device includes a glass panel 10, a
metal frame 20, and a housing body 30.
[0014] The panel 10 is configured for being received in the metal
frame 20. The panel 10 includes a first surface 11, a second
surface 13 opposite to the first surface 11, and a number of side
surfaces 15 connected to the first surface 11 and the second
surface 13. In order to stably connect the panel 10 to the housing
body 30, the side surfaces 15 are sloped. Referring to FIG. 5, one
end of each side surface 15 is connected to the first surface 11 at
an acute angle, and the other end of each side surface 15 is
connected to the second surface 13 at an obtuse angle. A closed
groove 151 is defined in all the side surfaces 15.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the metal frame 20 is a closed
frame, and includes a main section 21 and a bent edge 23 integrally
formed together. The main section 21 is substantially straight
relative to the bent edge 22. The main section 21 defines a number
of long and narrow spaced through holes 211. The bent edge 23
extends from one side of the main section 21, and is slanted toward
the inside of the metal frame 20. When the panel 10 is received in
the metal frame 20, the bent edge 23 is tightly latched in the
closed groove 151 to effectively prevent the panel 10 falling out
of the metal frame 20. The metal frame 20 is made of stainless
steel, and may be formed by stamping or punched from a metal
sheet.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the housing body 30 is made of
plastic material, and includes a base 31 and a closed reinforcement
portion 33 integrally formed together by injection molding. The
base 31 is molded to surround the metal frame 20 and the panel 10.
The closed reinforcement portion 33 extends through the through
holes 211 of the metal frame 20 during molding, and bonds to the
second surface 13 of the panel 10.
[0017] Therefore, the panel 10 is latched to the metal frame 20,
and is surrounded by the housing body 30. Additionally, the closed
reinforcement portion 33 supports the edges of the panel 10. This
design can keep the panel 10 secure and stably positioned on the
housing body 30 for a long period of time.
[0018] A method for manufacturing the housing 100 is described as
follows.
[0019] Firstly, the panel 10 is received in the metal frame 20, and
the bent edge 23 is tightly latched in the closed groove 151. An
injection mold is provided. The assembled metal frame 20 with the
panel 10 is positioned in a die chamber of the injection mold.
During molding the molten plastic flows into the through holes 211
of the metal frame 20 to form the closed reinforcement portion 33.
After the injection molding process, the panel 10 is tightly bonded
with the metal frame 20 and the housing body 20 to form the housing
100.
[0020] The panel 10, a metal frame 20 and the housing 30 are
integrally formed together by the above method. The method for
manufacturing the housing 100 by the injection mold increases
processing efficiency and reduces production timeframe.
Additionally, one side of the panel 10 is latched by the metal
frame 20 and the housing body 30, and the other side is supported
by the closed reinforcement portion 33. This secure the panel 10 is
stably positioned on the housing body 30.
[0021] It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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